Feed control for tape-dispensing devices



1954 A. P. KRUEGER ET AL FEEDCONTROL FOR TAPE-DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 29, 1947 Feb. 23, 1954 A. P. KRUEGER ET AL FEED CONTROL FOR TAPE-DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1947 1954 A. P. KRUEGER ET AL FEED CONTROL FOR TAPE-DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 29, 1947 Patented Feb. 23, 1954 PATENT OFFICE FEED CONTROL FOR TAPE-DISPENSING DEVICES Alfred P. Krueger, Stratford,

and Oscar P.

Erhardt, Derby, Conn., assignors to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Cnn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 29, 1947, Serial No. 738,032

12 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to a tape-dispensing device, and more particularly to a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape.

Tape of the character referred to above is tacky or clingable upon one surface, and for this reason some difiiculty has been encountered in the past in providing an apparatus which will properly draw or feed the tape from the supply roll upon which it is wound and deliver it, such that a free end may be grasped by the operator in such a manner that it may be readily applied to the package or other article with which it is to be used. The tape being tacky upon one surface will cling to any object with which it comes in contact, and for this reason it is desirable that the user of the tape handle it as sparingly as possible and preferably apply it to a package, for example, with the use of one hand, or even one finger, in contact with the tacky side of the tape.

- It is also contemplated by the present invention to provide a power-operated machine, or one which, as illustrated, is driven by an electric motor, so that the operator will be relieved of the efiort of drawing the tape from the roll. In many instances, tape of this character is used in relatively short lengths. Therefore, in order to prevent waste, it is desirable that, particularly in a power-operated dispensing apparatus, the device be so constructed that the feeding movement may be stopped at any desired time, and that it be sufiiciently slow so that the desired lengths, and no more, may be fed from the machine.

In the device illustrated, the feeding movement may be initiated by a pull upon the free end of exerting slight tension thereon, energize the motor to initiate the feeding movement of the machine, this feeding movement =continuing so long as tension is exerted upon the tape and being discontinued when the tension is relieved.

An alternative way of operating the machine is also illustrated in that the switch which controls the motor may be manually tripped and the motor will be energized, and the tape delivered from the machine as long as the switch is held in closed position.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, which may be power-operated and which may be readily controlled, so that the operator may conveniently secure the desired length of tape from the machine.

provide a motor-operated device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape so arranged that the motor will be energized by a pull upon the free end of the tape in a direction to draw it from the machine, and will continue to operate so long as this tension is maintained, and will discontinue its operation when the tension is discontinued.

Other objects of the invention reside in an arrangement of the parts which enables the tape to be engaged with the feeding means in a convenient manner when a new supply is placed in the machine; which will properly strip the tape from the feeding mechanism, so that a free end will be delivered from the machine so that it may be grasped and torn off against a severing member; and also to provide mechanism whereby the machine may be rendered inoperative at will, and also rendered inoperative when a new roll of tape is being installed.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a tape-dispensing machine embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial side elevation of the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 4. is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in the position in which the switch is closed to energize the operating motor;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with certain parts shown in another position;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the switch mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 on Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the feeding and stripping mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the tape being fed from the machine; I

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing a modified form of severing member;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the tape being fed from the machine;

Fig. 10 is a modified form of severing mechanism and switch, the severing member being adjustable;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention, we have shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings a tape-dispensing device comprising a supporting base It having a platform H, upon which is supported in an inclined position the driving motor [2, the shaft of which carries-a worm 13 in engagement with a worm wheel 14. This worm wheel is secured to a shaft It rotatably mounted in side plates I6 and it supported by, and upstanding from, the base it.

Secured to the shaft l between the plates 16 and I! is the feeding drum I8. As shown more especially in Fig. 1, this drum may comprise a plurality of spaced disks It having roughened orknurled peripheral edges, so that the tacky side.

of the tape will properly cling to the peripheral edges of these disks and be drawn from the, roll.

Also rotatably mounted in the plates l6 and I! is a shaft 2| having a plurality of toothed stripping disks 22 thereon, these disks, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, being adapted to extend bee tween the disks 59 so as. to engage the tape as it is drawn from the roll by the feeding disks. The stripping disks together constitute what may be termed a stripping drum, and in order that they may also be stripped from the tape, so that the Iatter wiil not cling thereto, it is preferable to operate the stripping disks at a greater peripheral speed than that of the feeding disks. To this end, a pinion 2 3 is secured upon the shaft 2i, which pinion is adapted to engage the teeth of an idler gear 25' rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 28 on the outer plate H, which gear 25; is in turn adapted to engage the gear 21 mounted upon the shaft I5, so that this stripping drum, as wellv as the feeding drum, will be rotated by the motor :2 through the worm it and worm wheel M.

As previously stated, the feed disks 19 have broken peripheral edges in that they are roughened" or knurled, and likewise the stripping disks have broken peripheral edges, the edges of both disks engaging the tacky side of the tape. By providing the feed disks with broken peripheral edges the adherence of the tape to these disks can be regulated as desired. It is, of course, necessary to have sufiicient adherence of the tape to the feeding disks to draw it from the supply roll. 0n the other hand, it is undesirable to have too great a degree of adherence of the tape to the feeding disks as this will cause the tape to curl as well as presenting increased resistance to the stripping operation.

A cover mechanism, which in this instance also includes a trip member for the motor switch, as will be hereinafter explained, is provided for the feed mechanism, this structure comprising, as illustrated, a lower plate 29 pivoted to the frame members it and i7 upon a pivot pin 38. To the side edges of the member 29 are secured parallel L-shaped arms 3%, these arms extending upwardly upon the outside of the members 4-6 and t1 and being secured together at their upper ends by a pin 32, which is adapted to be received in open-mouthed slots 33 and 33 provided at the upper ends of the frame members it and H.

In order that the cover may be latched in closed position, a slide member 34 is movably mounted on the member [6, this slide,- member being provided with elongated slots 35 adapted to receive pins 36. secured to the frame member. At its upper end, this slide is provided withv a latch finger 37 designed to engage the pin 32 and hold it securely in the slot or recess 33.. The member 34 is urged upwardly by a spring 38 suitably mounted upon the member [6, and is provided with a projecting thumbpiece 39, which may be engaged by the operator so as to press theslide member 34 downwardly in opposition to the action of the spring, and thus move the finger 37 from engagement with the pin 32, and

permit the cover to be swung from the closed 4 position shown, for exampie, in Big. i to the open position shown in Fig. 5.

The motor is adapted to be controlled by the switch mechanism, designated as a whole by the ref rence character 4|, this mechanism being of the usual micro-switch type and being carried by a pin 42 rockably mounted in the plates is and 1?. the, switch mechanism is provided with a resilient or flexible operating member 43 which acts upon a plunger 44 to close the switch contacts and thus energize the motor I2 in the usual manner, and, in its normal or on position, the switch mechanism M stands in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the member 43 may be moved toward the switch case to depress the plunger 4-4, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1. However, the switch case may be swung upon the pin 42 by rotation or oscillation of; the latter, so that it stands in the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position, the member 43 stands substantially in engagement with the shaft I5 and cannot be moved toward the left, as shown in this figure, to a sumcient extent to close the switch.

lEhe position just described is the of. position of the switch in that, while it is in this position, the motor cannot be operated, and the switch may be moved to this position in one or two ways, which will now be described. Referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the pin 52, upon which the switch case is mounted, not only extends through the plate H but also extends through an additional plate 41 secured in spaced relation to the plate H. On the projecting end of the pin 42 is rigidly secured 2. depending arm 48, this arm being provided at its lower end with a finger 49 extending into a recess '56 in an actuator 5| pivoted at 52 to the plate 41. A tension spring 53 is secured at one end to the pin 42, and at its other end to a point 54 on the actuator 5% below the pivot 52. The actuating member 5| is provided with lugs or ears 55 and 55, one at each side, so that either may be engaged by the finger of the user of the device, and the actuating member 51 rocked in either direction about its pivot 52. This rocking of the actuating member serves to rock the arm 48 and the pin s2, thus moving the switch M from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, and vice versa.

In Fig. 2' of the drawings, the arm 48 and switch-actuating member 5} are shown in the position which they occupy when the switch case is in the on position, or that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be noted that in this position the spring 53 lies to the left of the pivot 52 and tends to hold the parts in this position with the upper edge of the actuator in engagementwith a lug 57 on the arm 48. A corresponding lug 58 is pro.- vided at the other side of the arm 18, and, if the lug 55 is pressed downwardly and the switch actuator 5! rocked to the left until the upper edge of the actuator engages the lug 58, the switch mechanism 4| will be moved to the off position shown in Fig. 5, and, in this position of the parts,

the spring 53 will have moved past dead center position and will lie to the right, of the pivot 52, thus tending to hold these parts in the position to which they are moved.

It is also desirable to provide means for throw,- ing the switch mechanism 41 to ofi osition when the cover mechanism is open for any purpose, such as to install a new roll of tape. To this end, a link 60 is pivoted to the arm 3| of the cover mechanism adjacent the switch, this arm extending freely through a slot 61' in the plate 62 secured to the switch and being provided with a turned end or lug 63 on the rear side of the plate 62. The link 60 is pivoted to the arm 3| at 64, and this pivot is so disposed with relation to the pivot pin 3i] about which the arm moves that, when the latter moves in either direction from its extreme position, the link 60 will be moved past dead center position with respect to the pivot pin 3t and thus draw the lower end of the switch case to the right, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, or to its oil position. That is, when the cover mechanism is moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 5, the link 69 will be moved toward the right and will at once move the switch case to its off position. During the remainder of the downward movement of the arm 3|, the link 6!] will again move toward the left (after it is past dead center position), and the free end of the link will slide freely through the slot 6!, so that it will not move the switch to its on position. Similarly, the cover can be closed when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5 without affecting the position of the switch. However, if, while the cover is open, the switch is moved to its on position manually, then, when the cover is moved to closed position from the position shown in Fig. 5, it will first move the switch to its off position. Therefore, the cover mechanism is so arranged that, when it is moved in either direction, the switch mechanism will always be moved to its 01f position if it does not already stand in such position.

The switch-operating member 43 may be actuated in one or two ways as will now be described. Pivoted upon the pin 32 of the cover frame is a cover plate 65 provided with an opening 66,

through which the feed drum is exposed and also provided with side flanges Gl lying upon the outside of the arms 3|. At 5 ts lower end, this cover plate is curved downwardly as shown at 68 to provide a follower 69 adapted to engage the tape when tension is applied thereto by a pull upon the free end thereof, as shown in Fig. 7, so that, when the tape engages the follower 69, the cover plate will be rocked slightly in an upward direction about its pivot 32. Also pivoted to the arms 3! is a tear-01f or severing member H which normally lies above the tape and which may be provided with a serrated edge I2 against which the tape may be torn oil by an upward pull thereon. This member is also provided with a resilient stripper i3, so that the unsevered end of the tape will not stick to it, but will be urged therefrom after a severing operation. To the opposite ends of the member II are rigidly secured arms M pivoted to the members 3| at 15, the free end of one of these arms being elongated and provided with a slot 16 loosely receiving a pin 17 secured to one of the flanges 61 of the cover member. These two members are thus connected, so that, when the cover member is rocked upwardly as shown in Fig. 4 about its pivot 32, the severing member will be rocked downwardly about its pivot l5 clue to this pin and slot connection. Secured to the arm M, which is adjacent the plate Hi and, therefore, adjacent the switch 4|, is a switch-actuating arm 19 having a laterally turned end 80 designed to engage the switch-opcrating member 43 and close the switch to actuate the motor.

Thus, as will be apparent, the switch member 43 may be moved to close the switch, either by a pull upon the tape which engages the follower 69 and moves the cover member upwardly about its pivot member 32, or by a light pressure ofthe operator directly upon the severing member H;

Either of these operations will move the arm 19 in a direction to close the switch and energize the motor.

A supply r011 82 of tape may be mounted upon a shaft 83 rotatably carried by the members [6 and ll,'the tape extending upwardly in a substantially vertical direction, as shown at 84 in Fig. 3, and being trained over-the feed drum l8.

Stripper fingers 85 may be rigidly secured to the member 29 and extend inwardly between the stripping disks 22. These fingers may not ordinarily be required, but in the event that the tape, for some reason or another, tends to adhere to 'the stripper disks and tends to ride around with these disks instead of being projected from the machine, it will positively be stripped by these fingers, so that the end of the tape will stand in a free position, as shown at 86 in Fig. 6, where it may readily be grasped by the operator.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, we have shown a slightly modified form of our invention in which the severing member H and stripper 13' secured thereto are arranged at a slightly difierent angle with respect to the path of the tape or with respect to the cover member 65 in that the severing member I l stands in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in these figures, instead of an upwardly tipped position, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Otherwise, the mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is the same as that shown in'connection with the figures of the drawing previously described.

The operation of the device will now be described. In placing a new roll of tape in the machine, the cover mechanism is first moved to the position shown in Fig. 5. 'With the new roll in place on the shaft 83, a suitable length of the free end of the tape is engaged with the periphery of the feed drum l8, so that there will be sufficient adherence between the tape and the drum to draw the tape from the roll when the drum is operated. The cover mechanism may then be closed or moved from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be recalled that movement of the cover in either direction will move the switch mechanism 4| to its off position, so that it will now be necessary to move the switch actuator 5| to the position shown in Fig. 2, in order to restore the switch mechanism to its on position. Thereafter, a slight pressure downward on the severing member H will energize the motor and effect operation of the feeding mechanism which will draw the free end of the tape through the machine until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, for example, in which it may be grasped by engagement of the thumb or forefinger of the operator with the tacky side of the tape.

The free end of the tape will usually stand in the position shown in Fig. 6, and it may be engaged by the thumb or forefinger of the operator being placed beneath, or against the tacky side of, the tape, and the tape pressed upwardly against the stripping member 13 to cause it to adhere to the finger. When aslight length has been drawn out to the position shown in Fig. '7, it may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger as shown. When a slight tension is exerted upon the tape to straighten it out, a portion adjacent its free end will contact the follower 69 and thus raise the member 65 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. '7, thus rocking the arm 19 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. land closing the switch mechanism 4| to energize the motor. Ro-

aevceee Ii9913 F451 @191 29% HQ 2% 3 so long as sufilcient tension is applied to t tree end he-reel t9 he d th ewiteh membe 43 se zi n, te tl ee th Witisltv ue to th were; and W913! Wh el drive, the, eed wi he mpere ivelv slew ee. that the' eerefs devise an severe the desired, ength ef t pe 2d me more. es. when t e d sire 1e st h s be n eel. he. merely d eentinues t nsion up n the ree n of the tape and the switch member 43 eturns to its open Peti n 9v ts own resi ience h ope ator then s ft th tree. end of t e tap a a nst. the e edge I and the stri per 3, which has vedttg i l the member It will be meved ewey E r m the member gai by its awn reei ie ce strip he free end of th t pe. item the, edge 12 a it te ds to e ins the ete t s leavin it in th pesit n shown n. i 6. Wh r it be e di y ra ped. between the humb and th ferefins er a s bsequ nt operat on.

ue 9 th p n nd slot cennection between qne vi the 14 o he sev rin member H and one, Bi- 1 flange 5? of the Coven the latter will he m v e nwar lv by upward pressure on the se e ng member- Thus, w en the tape is moved as t the l t rtQ be torn on. the severing In her will lee. moved upwardly to. a slight ex-,

tent and. held th cover. depressed position. a the sw teh aetuat n arm 19. will be moved away item the m mber 4.11! to epen the switch. With this arrangement, the feed will always be stopped dur n t e. ever n operation.

. de ired he perator may merely pr ss gh l seen the severing member 1| end th s act t the switch. memleee ta, The

e d: efthe t pe will in such ease be ted out ire e. th in reat a length as is. dei Thi tle. n al ernative method oi operation,

elheesh; it vvi l eveleablv not: be th usual me hod,

the. operator rasps. the tape, between the thumb t eefin en as; strewn Rig; 7, the tape v l end o clin to the thumb. If, however, de ir s i o cl n to. his forefinger instead, e merel mess h s ierenneer helow: the @1955 .8: hQW l. $2, pressing" the: tape. upwel -lt aga ns the: slimmer 13 until its clings: to 12' finger a d hen apply tension. to the tape. in he m ner: state ento set the. Ina-ton into one ra a e uch event, it; will e tound more te t e sev r ng member my. to be set at a: sushi yhorizontal position) shown in Eigs; g-

9;., Thus; with the; present dleY Qe, the perator mayengage' the tape with i er isthumb r, i refinser applied. to; the tacky side of the tape and in. either case: he; can exert suliicient en ion.- n th tape to. move; the arm,v is and. ctu e h switch. member 43 t ve feund: c nveni nt tovv arran e the severing memh e hat ifii-S- di -L 1 MQl from the nes ienshewn '7- q at; shown, in; 8, o that; merely: by adju ting the positi n of, this member; hQQ E -QZIYbQ adapt d-e the teeth i era en te e in e. 7 or fe tha shee; n. Wehaveshewns eh an eieetehle e 1113' member. n. 10 1i a d 72st th drawle s.

Inthie emb dimentef. our. invent on, the arms Maw it. sen scent; athe arms. ,4 en vieu ly de Iced, re p v ded with r la iv -lit bee-ed s that th s member ma be ad usted to the an le d sire te the o erat on Qt the device- It W l he understand that. while the, Worm he 1. may e. driv n y t e worm l3, the r verse s not t ue There crel a. pull upon the fr end of t e tape i no ser o draw the. tape it m he r l un ess he me er is. e e ized, so tha the en s e ee nsee irem the machine only b Qp retien f t e. mo ion While we have shown and described some preierr l embedimente f ou nvention. it will be unde sto d th t it is n t to e. limit d to all of th de ai ehew but s c pable o modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and Wi hin th sc pe o t e claims.

Whet w cla m ,l A tapeedispensins machine comprising means r sule et ns e su ply r of t p f d n mechani m for drawing said tape from said roll, DQt IY Q-Dei' -Ed means for actuating said feed? ing mechanism, switch means to. control said motor, a rnovahlc tape-engaging member adapted to he moved by a. manual pull upon the tape in a direction to draw it from the machine, a mov able severingmcmber adjacent the, path of the tape-as, it leaves the feeding mechanism adapted to he moved by a manual pull of the tape thereagain t. to sever the tape, operative means of connection between said tape-engaging member and said switch means whereby movement of said tapeeengaging member upon a manual pull upon the tape. in a direction to draw it from the machine actuates said switch means to energize the motor, and operative. means of connection between said severing member and said switch means whereby movement of said severing memher by a manual pull of the tape thereagainst actuates said switch means to deenergize the motor and arrest feeding of the tape.

2* A. tape-dispensing machine comprising means for supporting a. supply roll of tape, feeding means for drawing the tape from the roll, motor-operated means for actuating said feeding means, a movable severing member mounted adjacent the path of th tape as it is delivered by said feedmeans and: adapted to be moved" by manual pull of the; tape. thereagainst, said severing means acting to sever the tape when so pulled, switch means for controlling the operation of; said motor-operated and operative means of connection between said; switch means and said severing member whereby movement of said severing member by manual pull of the tape thereagainstto severthe tape actuates said con-necting means to operate the switch to control the actuation of said motor-operated means.

3; A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for: supporting a supply-roll of tape, feeding means fordrawing the tape from the roll; tape-severing means for the tape being delivered by said feeding means comprising a movable severing member against which the tape is moved by a mental P ll n. t ape t e e th same, QQw r-Q ereted means or c uat n sa d e d: ing means, switch means. to control, said poweroperated means, tape engaging means movably neeni d, ailme e h Q he t e and shiited hi5 null, en; he ef the tape being delivered from the supply roll, and operative means of connection to said switch from said severing means and from said tapeengaging means whereby feed of the tape is initiated by movement of said tape-engaging means by a manual pull on the tape in a direction to draw it from the machine and is arrested by movement of the severing means effected by a manual pull of the tape thereagainst to sever the tape.

4. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, means thereon for supporting a supply roll of tape, power-operated feeding means for drawing tape from the roll and moving it forwardly, tape-severing means movably mounted on the frame for the forwardly moving portion of the tape, tape-engaging means shiftable by manual pull on the unsevered end of the tape forwardly of the feeding means, and means connecting said feeding means with the tape-severing means and with the tape-engaging means whereby feeding is initiated by movement of the tape-engaging means upon manual pull on the tape in a direction to draw it from the machine and arrested by movement of the severing means upon manual pull of the tape thereagainst to sever the tape.

5. A tape-dispensing machine compri ing means for supporting a supply roll of pressure-sensitive tape, feeding mechanism for drawing the tape from said roll having means engaging the tacky side of the tape, motor-operated means for actuating said feeding mechanism, a movably mounted severing means adjacent the path of the tape as it leaves said feeding mechanism and adapted to be moved by a manual pull of the tape thereagainst, switch means to start and stop said motor-operated means, and means connecting said severing means to said switch means to open said switch when the severing means is moved by a manual pull of the tape thereagainst to sever the tape.

6. A tape-dispensing machine, comprising means for supporting a supply roll of tape, feeding means for drawing tape from the roll, motoroperated means for actuating said feeding means, a movable severing member mounted adjacent the path of the tape as it is delivered by said feeding means, said severing member acting to sever the tape being delivered which is pulled manually against the severing member, switch means for controlling the operation of said motor-operated means, operative means of connection between said switch means and said severing member whereby the movement of the severing member controls the actuation of the motor-operated means, and means for preventing actuation of the switch by said severing member.

7. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, comprising means for supporting a supply roll of tape, feeding mechanism for drawing tape from said roll by engagement of the tape therewith, an electric motor for driving said feeding mechanism, switch mechanism for controlling the motor, a movable cover for said feeding mechanism, a switch-actuating member, and means controlled by movement of the cover for preventing actuation of the switch by the actuating member.

8. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, comprising means for supporting a supply roll of tape, feeding mechanism for drawing tape from said roll by engagement of the tape therewith, an electric motor for driving said feeding mechanism, switch mechanism for controlling the motor, a cover for said feeding mechanism movable in opposite directions to open or closed position, a switch-actuating member, and means controlled in accordance with movement of the cover in either of two opposite directions for preventing actuation of the switch by the actuating member.

9. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, comprising means for supporting a supply roll of tape, feeding mechanism for drawing tape from said roll by engagement of the tape therewith, an electric motor for driving said feeding mechanism, switch mechanism for controlling the motor, a cover for said feeding mechanism movable to open position, means for movably mounting said switch mechanism as a whole, and means actuated by movement of th cover to open position for moving said switch mechanism as a whole.

10. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, comprising means for supporting a supply roll of tape, feeding mechanism for drawing tape from said roll by engagement of the tape therewith, an electric motor for driving said feeding mechanism, switch mechanism for controlling the motor, a movable cover for said feeding mechanism, a switch-actuating member, means for movably mounting said switch mechanism as a whole, and means actuated by movement of the cover for moving said switch mechanism to a position to render said switch-actuating member inoperative to close the switch.

11. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, comprising means for supporting a supply roll of tape, feeding mechanism for drawing tape from said roll by engagement of the tape therewith, an electric motor for driving said feeding mechanism, switch mechanism for controlling the motor, means for movably mounting said switch mechanism as a whole, a switchactuating member, and means for moving said switch mechanism as a whole to a position wherein said switch-actuating member is inoperative to close the switch.

12. A mechanism for dispensing pressuresensitive tape, comprising means for supporting a supply roll of tape, feeding mechanism for drawing tape from said roll by engagement of the tape therewith, an electric motor for driving said feeding mechanism, switch mechanism for controlling the motor, a hinged cover for said feeding mechanism, means for movably mounting said switch mechanism as a whole, and a connection between said cover and said switch mechanism whereby the latter is moved to an inoperative position when the cover is moved about its hinge.

ALFRED P. KRUEGER.

OSCAR P. ERI-IARDT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,972,851 McCarthy Sept. 4, 1934 2,041,831 Helsel May 26, 1936 2,097,485 Helsel Nov. 2, 937 2,243,112 Morrissey May 27, 1941 2,275,409 Anderson Mar. 10, 1942 2,277,514 Elser Mar. 24, 1942 2,405,790 Krueger Aug. 13, 1946 2,407,300 Smith Sept. 10, 1946 2,434,996 Gautier Jan. 27, 948 

